London Transport Museum has commissioned two EFE Road AEC Routemaster models to tie in with the upcoming Routemaster 70th Anniversary.

The models are based on the latest re-tooled version of EFE Road's RM Class tooling and will be exclusive to the London Transport Museum Shop.

Both models depict RM1 (SLT 56) which is part of the Museum's vehicle collection. The models carry the traditional 1960/70s red livery with gold underlined London Transport fleet names. A full set of advertisements for the Museum are carried on both sides, front & rear. Both versions depict the vehicle working on route 2, there is a choice of either Crystal Palace or Victoria ultimate destinations.

The models are packaged in the usual EFE Road display cases and will have special card wrapper with "RM1 Routemaster 70th Anniversary Model" legends. A anniversary leaflet will also be included with the model.

• Diary & Events - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & net forum.
• Shows & Exhibitions - MBF Events & other public events
• Editorial
• Cover Story - This Park Royal bodied Leyland Titan PD3A is one of three vehicles from the United Motors fleet of the late Mick Broadhead which has been added to the North Midlands Transport Museum collection. (see next article)
• Return to the North Midlands Transport Museum by Dave Jessop - The North Midlands Transport Museum first appeared in the Journal back 2016, in an article written by the then Museum owner Arnold Chave. After Arnold sadly passed away in 2020, the Museum came under Eldorado's wing and a second article appeared in October 2022. This article details the latest editions to the collection.
• From the Archive - Eldorado & United Motors jointly operated route 562, Eldorado's 145, a Scania N113DR Alexander R is pictured with route 562 destination blinds.
• 70 Years Ago! by Dave Jessop - Dave's first toy bus was a Dinky Streamline coach in 1954. It been restored and now carries fleet number 1 in Dave's Eldorado fleet.
• Beamish Museum Model Tram Exhibition by Gorden Wigham - A brief review of this event which was organised by one of the MBF's newer members over the weekend of the 6 & 7 April.
• Gremlins! - Some photographs got mixed up in April's North Midlands Area Meeting report.
• Midland Bus Kits Model Bus Show 2024 by Daryl Hemsell - 250 visitors attended this years event, which had 24 stalls & a variety of sales and displays. Planning for next years event has already started and will take place at the Genesis Entertainment Centre, a former Midland General Bus Depot, on the 22nd March 2025.
• Welcome Aboard - A welcome to six new members & one returnee.
• Obituary: Phil Sposito by Mike Walker - Phil was an active member of the Bristol Vintage Bus Group and was very hands on with the restoration of vehicles owned by the Group. He was also a very skilled model maker, both modifying diecast models, and scratch building them is a variety of materials & scales. He will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
• More Gremlins! - The wrong photograph was submitted as part of April's North Midlands Area Meeting report.
• Short Bova by Robert Aveyard - Robert cuts down a standard 53 seat Corgi OOC Bova Futura model to produce a short wheelbase 10m 45 seater version which is finished to depict Pumpkins Motors Services HC02PUM (106).
• ... and a Real One! by Dave Jessop - V505PCX a Bova 10.340 with Futura C37Ft photographed in Johnson's livery back in 2005.
• Photo Extra by Dave Jessop - Another reason for taking your model photo's from street level rather then from a high view point is that they take up 77% less space on the Journal pages.
• Dinky Overload by Syd Eade - Syd bought 100 Dinky 290 double decker models from David Evans. He decided to strip them and restore them all back to their original Dinky red & white condition in one go!
• What If ...? - Another "What If" model from David Dawes is a Mercedes Citaro in Longstaff livery.
• Plan of the Month by Alan Johnson - Roe 33ft "Mancunian Fleetline"
• Area News - Eleven pages of reports & Over 60 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the Greater Manchester, West, South Wales & Herefordshire, Dorset New Forest, North Midlands, & North West areas.
• MBF Shop - The MBF Streetscene,& Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
• MBF Streetscene White metal Bus & Coach Kits - The former ABS white metal bus kits added to the MBF Streetscene range. These are available exclusively to members at low cost (from £10.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)

Northcord Model Company is proud to release its second model of the ukbus 6200 range on the former CMNL long wheelbase Enviro400 tooling.

This is ukbus 0073, replicated in the fleet of Ensignbus carrying its standard livery.

ukbus 0073 features Ensignbus 123 (SN59 AWV) working on route X1 to Basildon Bus Station. SN59 AWV began life as a demonstrator for its manufacturer, being registered for the first time in September 2009, and toured many operators across the country in its red and gold livery before entering the Ensignbus fleet.

Because the model deployed to replicate the real bus is of a different scale length, the model has been numbered into the ukbus00xx range. However, the message to use this number on all items associated with the model was mixed up by the factory, so it carries both the originally allocated number ukbus 6204 as well as the corrected number ukbus 0073 and but it is that latter number that should be used in all references to this otherwise excellent model.

The stand-out features of the livery are : “Ensignbus” and www.ensignbus.com on all sides, together with “BUGGYBUS” at the front.

The replicas feature excellent detailing, inside and out, such as realistic-looking handpoles and handrails. The Enviro400 model is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible.

The brand new UKBUS0073 bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS0073 is based on a Limited Edition of only 1008 pieces produced.

• 50 seater - 50 coach style seats
• 56 seater - has a very narrow walkway at the rear to accommodate the additional seats.

• 1:50 - 2 x 42mm, 1 x 30mm
• OO (1:76) - 2 x 27mm, 1 x 20mm
• N (1:148) - 2 x 14mm, 1 x 10mm

• Diary & Events - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & net forum.
• Shows & Exhibitions - MBF Events & other public events
• Editorial
• Cover Story - Brain Bennett restored Trystco Southdown Leyland Royal Tiger / East Lancs model. (see next article)
• Southdown Restoration by Brian Bennett - Brain acquired a poorly painted & damaged Trystco Southdown Leyland Royal Tiger / East Lancs single decker for a fiver at the MBF National Show in 2022. He explains how he stripped & repaired model before restoring in the traditional Southdown livery.
• Product News - The master for the next Paul Ellender Kit NK17, the MB Sprinter EVM Cityline.
• Burlingham Seagull Conversion by Martin Hare - Martin has converted a Corgi OOC/Atlas Burlingham Seagull coach into a Southdown Commer TS Baby Burlingham.
• Photographs for the Journal by Dave Jessop - In light of the new Journal design, a reminder of some general guidelines for those submitting photographs for inclusion in future issues.
• Wood's Yard by Brian Groombridge - Brain's diorama depicts Wood's Yard, a former coach building and repair business which closed down many years ago. Nature has since taken over the abandon vehicles & buildings.
• Review: Brekina Routemaster by Brian Rowney - Brain reviews the 1:87th scale Routemaster which doesn't seem to have had the expected success in either Germany or UK. Examples are already be cleared at half price. What went wrong?
• Sprinter Update. Following last month article about the Mercedes Benz Sprinter, a few more examples have come to light from JoyCity & Hongwell Cararama.
• Footnote - Members model photographs required for filling small spaces on Journal pages.
• The RMS6L (The Return of The Scooter?) by Nick Barnett - Nick has modelled the little known six wheeled AEC Routemaster produced as an experimental vehicle by London Transport. This vehicle & the unique 30ft RTWL were sadly scrapped on 1 April 1963.
• Stafford Extravaganza 2024 - Details for those wishing to attend the event that took place on the 20th April.
• CARS Workshop 12m Metrobus Demonstrator by Paul Tattam - Paul takes a close look at this 1:64 scale remote control model and the history three real Demonstrator vehicles which were trailed in Hong Kong in 1981.
• Shop Update - Some feedback is requested from members about which kits they would most like re-introduced from the ABS range.
• Welcome Aboard - A welcome to three new members & one returnee's.
• Plan of the Month by Martin Jarvis - 1966 Leyland Atlantean / Roe H43/34F - Oldham Corporation 136-147, GBU136-147D
• Area News - Ten pages of reports & 63 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the East Anglia, West, London, North Midlands, Kent, & Greater Manchester areas.
• MBF Shop - The MBF Streetscene,& Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
• MBF Streetscene White metal Bus & Coach Kits - The former ABS white metal bus kits added to the MBF Streetscene range. These are available exclusively to members at low cost (from £10.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)

• Diary & Events - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & net forum.
• Shows & Exhibitions - MBF Events & other public events
• Editorial
• Cover Story - An ex East Kent Leyland TD with Park Royal body in Dick Lindsay's Forest Travel fleet. A 2004 LBC kit which has recently had a re-run.
• The Long and Short Of It by Martin Hare - Maidstone & District were among numerous other companies to operate BET style Marshall & Willowbrook Short Leyland Leopards. Martin describes how he converted a longer Green Line RC type diecast produced by EFE into a shorter M&D version.
• Luton Corporation Transport by Peter Roe - Peter's life long interest in Luton Corporation & 15 years of research lead to his book "Luton Corporation Transport" detailing the history of the operator. Not content, Peter has decided to make at least one model of every vehicle type operated by the undertaking.
• More LT Services Vehicles by Michael Whent - A further selection models from Michael's extensive collection of LT Service vehicles.
• London Area Show - A review of the annual London Area MBF show which was attended by 104 members & 17 members of the public.
• Welcome Aboard - A welcome to seven new members & two returnee's.
• Kit Review 1: Three Peaks Models Albion Victor by Dick Lindsay. - Dick reviews the 3D printed resin kit from Three Peaks Models that is based on vehicles operated in Guernsey.
• Product News UK - Midland Bus Kits next kit will be Nottingham Leyland Atlantean / Northern Counties, and a major update from Marsden Models on recent releases & upcoming new kits.
• Over To You - Some feedback on the "The Way Ahead in 1949" article from the March issue concerning the Green Line RT97/RTC1 experimental vehicle.
• From the Archive by Brian Bennett. Scratch built Brighton Buses Dennis Dominator C718 NCD with East Lancs body.
• Kit Review 2: Marsden Models Roe Dalesman by Ken Johnson - Dick reviews the resin kit from Marsden Models and finishes the model in his Kenborough & District coach fleet livery.
• 2024 Events - The following MBF Events are open to the public.
  North West: The North West Area Show, Saturday 6th July at Cornerstone Church, Netherfield Road, Nelson, Lancs BB9 9AW. 10:00am to 3:30pm, Admission £3.00 and accompanied children £1.50.
  Kent: The MBF Kent Area Transport Event, Saturday 31st August at Northfleet School for Girls, Hall Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8AQ. 10:00am to 4:00pm. Adults £3.00, accompanied children (under 16) free. Also has other stands featuring model railways, ships, planes & cars.
  Chester: The 2024 Chester Model Bus Show, Saturday 5th October at St Columba's Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Newton, Cheshire CH2 1SA. 10:00am to 3:00pm. Admission £4.00 accompanied children free
• Plan of the Month by David Evans - 1923 Foden Steam Bus - Horsham & District M 6359
• Area News - Thirteen pages of reports & 85 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the North West, East Anglia, Yorkshire x2, North Midlands, North Wales & Cheshire, West Midlands & London areas.
• MBF Shop - The MBF Streetscene,& Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
• MBF Streetscene White metal Bus & Coach Kits - The former ABS white metal bus kits added to the MBF Streetscene range. These are available exclusively to members at low cost (from £10.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)

Many Thanks
Iwan Jones
MBC Production Manager.

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus, Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach North West, Go North East, Stagecoach North Scotland and Go South Coast Stagecoach MacMillan and Spirit of London releases Northcord Model Company is now releasing the twentieth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – ukbus 6531 in the livery of Stagecoach Manchester with full, new, standard local livery.

ukbus 6531 features Stagecoach Manchester 11523 (SK20 AVY) working on route 192 to Piccadilly. 11523 was new to Stagecoach Manchester in 2020 as one of the earliest factory-painted examples in this new, standard, ‘local livery’.

Other than the Royal Jubilee model, ukbus 6529, with its royal-associated colours, this is the first representation by Northcord Model Company of the newest standard livery, termed “local livery”.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6531 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the ukbus 6531 model is its single tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.

Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6531 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide.